Drainpipe stoppage preventer



y 1950 F. w. HEUACKER 2,506,669

DRAINPIPE STOPPAGE PREYENTER Filed Junk 15, 1947 Imus/'7 ZOr' Frederic/r V14 fieaac/rer y %%mwwm m%m Patented May 9, 1950 .UNlTED STATES PATENT oFFlci: gff

Application June 13, 1947, Serial No. 754,469

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a drain pipe stoppage preventer, and more particularly to such a device adapted to be utilized in basins in beauty parlors and barber shops, to prevent the passage of hair into the drain, resulting in a stoppage thereof.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a means adapted to be inserted in the basin outlet to catch hair, lint, hairpins, and the like, to prevent the passage thereof into the trap of said fixture, or further into the drain pipe; thus causing a stoppage.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device provided with a plurality of relatively sharp pointed prongs, for the purpose of arresting such foreign matter as mentioned above, and the same may be easily inserted or removed from basin outlet fitting for the cleaning of same, or the replacement of a new one.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is flexible yet durable in construction, reliable and eiiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there are disclosed preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the basin outlet fitting disclosing one form of my invention in position therein, analternative position being disclosed in dotted lines. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan view of my device shown as disassociated from the drain pipe basin outlet fitting.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure l, but disclosing a modified form of construction. This form is desirable in homes, apartments, hotels, and the like, where a rubber stopper is required in the basin. This type of stoppagepreventer may also be easily removed and replaced.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to the modification disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, this device comprises a U-shaped member including two upright legs I and a connecting lower extremity II. The member may be made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The inner side of the upright member I I is provided with a plurality of spaced upwardly extending teeth l2 along the inner side thereof, while the base portion l I is provided with-similar upwardly projecting teeth l3. Each upright leg I0 is provided at a point above the teeth I! with a protuberance or projection ll, beyond which the legs extend upwardly and terminate in outwardly turned tabs l5.

In the operation of the device, as best shown in Figure 1, the tabs is are compressed to the position indicated in dotted lines. and the device is pushed downwardly into the drain outlet fitting N5 of a basin l'l. When the tabs are substantially flush with the top I! of the fitting I 'l, the portions H are adapted to engage in the side grooves 20 of said fitting II, normally positioned in such a drain fixture for the accommodation of strainer cross-bars which may be readily removed if such are provided, and the portions It allowed to expand to the position shown in full lines. With the device in this position, it will be seen that the teeth 12 project inwardly into the drain pipe in such manner as to catch hair, lint, hair pins, and similar debris passing downwardly into the drain. In case of such hair as is missed by the teeth l2, it will be readily apparent that the teeth l3 will serve to catch the same.

Obviously, when a sufllcient quantity of hair or other matter has been collected to render passage of waste water through the drain pipe difficult, causing partial stoppage, the article may be removed by compression of the tabs [5 a simple withdrawal, of the device from its'Ysetting.

A modified form of construction is disclosed in Figure 4, wherein the device includes upright members It provided with teeth I2, and a U- shaped connecting portion H, upon which the teeth l3 of the central portion are omitted. Indentations H are provided adjacent the upper extremities of upright portions ill, but the portions of the uprights extending therebeyond are insuflicient to reach the level of the fixture H. A centrally positioned upright bar 2-5 is adapted to be secured on the portion II' in vertical relation centrally thereof in any desired manner. The upright bar 25 is provided with upwardly angularly disposed teeth 28, corresponding in angular inclination to the teeth It, and at its upper extremity the member 25 is provided with a fingerengaging loop 30.

Obviously, in this modification, a rubber stopper 3| may be used at will. The loop 30 may be grasped by the index finger and thumb, or by a hack for inserting or removing the device from the drain pipe I6, and the indentations 14 may be engaged in the recessed side grooves 20 in the same manner as that discussed with respect to the previous modification.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved drain pipe stoppage preventer which accomplishes all the objects 10f th s invention, and others, including many tart-nee of great prati' ai ma and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications shown and described, it is to illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: A trap device for drain pipes, consistingbf an integral U-shaped resilient member for insertion ante tfi iirenr pine; the fiiir'1ldf having spaced 7 may be made in the embodimefit'iir'iiibefoi'e' e be eqe ieaei et v all matter herein is to be interpretd'hiei'ely'as iiiEDE tfiiffiitfkrma.

REFERENCES CITED yfhe gollowi ng references are of record in the 'iil' f r patent:

' STA'VIES PATENTS- flame Date Catsiif Nov. 23, 1897 Nathan Feb. 10, 1914 0 7 1,950,817 v Rossman ..-a- Mar. 13 1-934 

